Two Named as Best Teachers in Washington in Annual Teacher of the Year Contest

SEATTLE, June 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of essays and "extra credit" assignments were submitted and reviewed as part of Ivar's and Kidd Valley restaurants' 10^th annual Teacher of the Year contest. Two exceptional educators came out on top to earn the grand prize awards as the best teachers in Washington. Ivar's and Kidd Valley are pleased to name Jeffery Thoreson of Snohomish's Riverview Elementary School as Ivar's Teacher of the Year and Tammy Gunderson of Woodinville's Wellington Elementary School as the Kidd Valley Teacher of the Year. In two separate ceremonies, each were presented with a $1,000 giant check – double the previous years' grand prize – good for a gift certificate for school supplies and a commemorative plaque, plus bragging rights among fellow teachers.

Thoreson was nominated by nine of his second-grade students for his ability to make learning fun by playing the piano and singing and acting out school lessons. He was also recognized for his dedication to teaching the students how to raise salmon and release them in the wild to assist with local salmon restoration. The nine nominating students along with their second-grade classmates received clam certificates good for a complimentary Ivar's Kids Meal, admission tickets to Imagine Children's Museum in Everett and a visit by Ivar's famous Dancing Clam!

Madison Van Avery, a third-grade student from Wellington Elementary School, nominated teacher Tammy Gunderson. Ms. Gunderson is recognized for using humor and creativity to develop assignments, reports and art projects that are fun for her students along with being genuinely interested in their likes and talents by encouraging and rewarding good behavior. Gunderson's third-grade class received certificates good for a Kidd Valley Kids Meal and admission tickets to Imagine Children's Museum in Everett.

Ivar's and Kidd Valley also awarded two teachers each the first place prizes of a $150 gift card for school supplies.

Ivar's first place winners:

• Cami Pryzbylski, fourth-grade, Sunny Hills Elementary, Issaquah
• Zelda Menard, fourth-grade, Puesta del Sol, Bellevue

Kidd Valley first place winners:

• Nani Castor-Peck, fifth-grade, John Standford International, Seattle
• Tamara Hayes, second-grade, Cascade K-8 Community School, Shoreline

Fifteen teachers each also received second place honors which included a $25 Ivar's or Kidd Valley gift card.

Ivar's second place winners:

• Janette MacKay, first-grade, TOPS at Seward, Seattle
• Jeanette Bullock, Intervention and ELL, Green Gables Elementary, Federal Way
• Brianna Weimar, fourth-grade, Brighton School, Lynnwood
• Margaret Ubben, sixth-grade, Grace Academy, Marysville
• Matthew Phillipy, fifth- through eighth-grade, West Valley City School, West Valley
• Jesse Shook, first- and second-grade, Greenwood Elementary, Seattle
• Kelli Osborne, fifth- through eighth-grade, West Valley City School, West Valley
• Cyndi Kellison, kindergarten, Wellington Elementary, Northshore
• Kenneth VanBuren, sixth-grade, Truman Middle School, Tacoma
• Hien Van-Le, eighth-grade, Salmon Bay School, Seattle
• Jessica Troy, first- through third-grade, Geiger Montessori, Tacoma
• Linnea Rye, third-grade, Grand Ridge Elementary, Issaquah
• Mariel Hanna, fifth-grade, Newcastle Elementary, Issaquah
• Lauri Sukola, sixth-grade, Lakota Middle School, Federal Way
• Rebecca Shroyer, second-grade, Grove Elementary, Marysville

Kidd Valley second place winners:

• Emily Betts, third-grade, APP at Lincoln, Seattle
• April Seamon, fifth-grade, Mill Creek Elementary, Everett
• Dean Drugge, fifth-grade, Bennett Elementary, Bellevue
• Rory McAuley, first-grade, Adams Elementary, Seattle
• Julie Pfohl, fourth-grade, Mill Creek Elementary, Everett
• Maria Pickering, fourth-grade, Ardmore Elementary, Bellevue
• Erick VonGohren, eighth-grade, Olympic View Middle School, Mukilteo
• Ben Gown, fourth-grade, Seattle Jewish Community School, Seattle
• Sue Neil, sixth-grade, Hunt Elementary, Puyallup
• Cindy Kaufman, second-grade, Moorlands Elementary, Northshore
• Carrie Childs, third-grade, Shorewood Elementary, Highline
• Molly Anderson, kindergarten, Moorlands Elementary, Northshore
• Mark Dougherty, fifth-grade, Assumption – St. Bridgit, Seattle
• Cindy Elder, sixth- through eighth-grade, Pine Lake Middle School, Issaquah
• Diane Mitchell, first-grade, Rock Creek Elementary, Tahoma

About Ivar's
Ivar's Seafood Restaurants began on Seattle's waterfront in 1938. Today, there are 23 Ivar's fast casual Seafood Bars and three full-service restaurants: Ivar's Acres of Clams, Ivar's Salmon House and Ivar's Mukilteo Landing. Ivar's Seafood, Soup and Sauce Company markets and sells its award-winning soups, chowders and sauces both nationally and internationally. The company also operates regional stadium concessions including Safeco Field, CenturyLink Field, KeyArena, Bank of America Arena, Husky Stadium and Cheney Stadium. Learn more at www.Ivars.com.

About Kidd Valley
Kidd Valley has earned a following throughout Seattle and the Eastside for its made-to-order burgers, old fashioned, hand-mixed shakes which often feature seasonal ingredients, Kidd Meals, and mouthwatering side dishes such as fresh sweet onion rings, sweet potato fries, Grounders Famous Garlic Fries and signature fried mushrooms. Kidd Valley began in 1975 in Seattle's University District. Today, Kidd Valley has 8 retail locations throughout Western Washington plus 6 stadium and event locations such as Safeco Field, CenturyLink Field and KeyArena. For more, please visit www.kiddvalley.com.

SOURCE Ivar’s; Kidd Valley